I first saw this toy in its beta stages at the AVN Expo in Las Vegas, 2011. I was so excited because it was new and different, and really brilliant for a lot of the folks who had asked me for a sex toy recommendation.
Now, you may look at it, and say “Shanna, the Minna Ola looks nice, but it just looks like a fancy Lelo or Je Joue toy, even down to the similar coloring!” This is true. And, like the Lelo sex toys, Je Joue Vibrators and even the Jimmy Jane sex toys, the Minna Ola charges, rather than runs on batteries (better for the environment and better for you; you don’t have to take the batteries out to travel, and you are never in fear of having to rustle through your remotes because you’ve used up all your spare vibrator batteries). So similar, yes, but also different.
Why? Because you create your own vibration patterns and it remembers them. While some toys may have 5, 7 or even 9 different vibration patterns, the Minna Ola vibrates as you squeeze the pad. The harder you squeeze, the more intense the vibrations. Once you let go, the vibrations stop. You want it to go start, build up, wind down, build up, wind down? Done. You want it to go on/off/on/off/on/off? Done. On for 7.5 seconds, off for 3.2 seconds, on for 3.2 seconds, off for 7.5 seconds? Done. Whatever vibrational pattern you want, you can make it happen, and it will memorize it for you. Oh the experiments I hope will happen!
Minna Ola is made of silicone, so is shareable if you sterilize it (I’d recommend wiping it down with a 10% bleach solution, letting it dry and then washing it off — don’t boil or dish wash this type of toy because it has electronic parts inside). Its design allows it to be used internally or externally (although not really both at the same time). Overall, it is a brilliant design by some nerdy folks who broke into the sex toy industry (after doing something more traditionally technical) with this incredibly creative idea.
Drawbacks? It is complicated to figure out the first time or two, especially if you are in the middle of the action (rather than sitting on the couch and reading the accompanying book to figure out exactly what does what and how to make it work the way you would like it to). Compared to some toys, like the Hitachi, it doesn’t have as much power as some people need…and yes, it is at a higher price point. However, you can get 10% off by entering shannakatz2013 at checkout, to make it a little bit more affordable. And oh yeah; it comes with a one-year limited product warranty. Heck, that is more than I can say for my hot iron!
Head over to the Minna Life site to buy your own Minna Ola, and don’t forget that shannakatz2013 gets you 10% off!
-Shanna
This post, Sex Toy Review: Minna Ola (and Discount Code!), originally appeared on Shanna Katz M.Ed, ACS on December 2, 2013.
